Goldman Sues O.J. Over Regan Book

DECEMBER 19--The father of Ron Goldman today sued O.J. Simpson, claiming that the disgraced athlete fraudulently profited from 'If I Did It,' the canceled book that reportedly contained Simpson's fictionalized account of how he could have killed Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson. In the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, Fred Goldman alleges that Simpson pocketed about $1 million in the deal for 'If I Did It,' which was to be published last month by ReganBooks, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. The title was scrubbed in the face of widespread public criticism. In his complaint, a copy of which you'll find below, Goldman contends that Simpson has tried to hinder the collection of a $38 million judgment arising from a civil verdict that found the former football star liable for the wrongful deaths of Goldman and Brown, who were murdered in 1994 (a Los Angeles criminal jury acquitted Simpson of the killings in October 1995). The hefty judgment remains unsatisfied, the complaint notes, 'other than nominal sums collected through various levies.' Along with Simpson, Goldman today named Lorraine Brook Associates as a defendant in the federal action. The Florida firm was incorporated in March by attorney Leonardo Starke, a Simpson golfing buddy. Goldman charges that Simpson fraudulently conveyed his intellectual property rights to the shell company, which then cut the book deal with Regan. The complaint claims that jurisdiction lies in Los Angeles since 'some or all' transactions involving 'If I Did It' occurred at the Century City office of Regan, who was fired last week. In a statement, Goldman's lawyers said they anticipate adding Regan, HarperCollins, and the publisher's parent company, News Corporation, as lawsuit defendants. Additionally, they expect to depose Regan, Rupert Murdoch, and others involved in negotiations for the book and a related Fox Television interview. (9 pages)